Our Garden Hearts

Mark 6:31 – Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." (NLT)

In Australia, autumn has ended, though there are still heaps of colourful, crinkly, dry leaves for me to crunch and kick around in my garden. Due to loving family help, I joy that roses are pruned, spring-flowering bulbs are planted, and winter vegetables are showing signs of a healthy harvest to come.

As the early winter day's mist clears, morning coffee out in the sunshine, while seeing the birds flit through the sparsely-leafed fruit trees and pink, white, and red azaleas, is an idyllic pleasure. The tranquility of the all-round neatness of the colourful scene, along with Jesus' presence, takes my conversation with Him to the abundant mentions of gardens in His word — then further to fellowship about my favourite garden in the Song of Solomon: "I am my beloved's [garden] and my beloved is mine! He feeds among the lilies [which grow there]." (Song of Solomon 6:3 AMP)

As believers, we have been drawn by our loving Father God to believe in His Son Christ Jesus. When we ask Him into our believing hearts, they become a type of garden for our Lord King, which He bought with His precious blood, death, and resurrection life. He enters freely to dwell — to make His home in our garden hearts.

Song of Solomon 5:1 – I have come into my garden, my sister, my [promised] bride. (AMP)

A garden is not a wasteland nor an open field, but rather a secluded, hedged enclosure. Our Saviour Lord desires to make of our garden hearts a place of spiritual beauty, filled with His serenity and light. He invites us to fellowship intimately with Him: "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile."

By His grace, as we accept His invitations, our faithful, expert gardener freely plants and grows the perfect attributes of His nature in our hearts, ever nourishing them with the Holy Spirit's dew of truth. Because our Lord is the majestic husbandman, His planted attributes will flourish, bloom, mature, multiply, and thrive to complete His purposes in our lives.

Song of Solomon 4:16b – Let my beloved come into his garden and eat its choicest fruits. (AMP)

May we frequently set aside restful times with the Master of our garden hearts so that His fellowship permeates everything else we are and do. As we manifest His well-watered garden, filled with the fragrances of His heavenly presence, joy, and glory, it becomes known that we have touched the fullness of Him who came to renew us until we have the very "mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart." (1 Corinthians 2:16b AMP)

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus Lord, for our divinely-created garden hearts that You have graced with Your dwelling presence. May we ever be as Mary was at Your feet — listening, hearing, and sharing loving fellowship with You, under the sweet, reigning showers of Your kingly grace and fragrant perfumes of the Holy Spirit. In Your glorious majestic name, we thank You for this highly privileged, honouring fellowship. Amen and Amen!

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook